montgomery



2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

R.' N. MONTGOMERY.

BILLIARD SCORING BOARD.

No. 397,019. Patented Jan. 29, 1889.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

R. N.. MONTGOMERY.

* BILLIARD SCORING BOARD.

9, Patented Jan. 29, 1889.

Invenr:

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

RODERICK NICHOLSOBT MONTGOMERY, OF MELBOURNE, YlC'lORlA.

BILLIARD-SCORNG BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters atent No. 397,019, dated January 29, 1889.

Application filed June 19, 1888. Serial No. 277,607. (No model.)

toria, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Construction ot BilliardScoring i Boards, of which the following is a spccitieation.

This invention ot' improvements in the cone struction of billiard-scoring boards has been designed tor the purpose oi enabling such a contri vance to automatically register the number ot' games played as well as the numbers scored by each player. I accomplish this by attaching to one of the pointers (and preferably the lower pointer ot a scoring-board) a registering apparatus consisting' of a train of wheels leading to an in d eX-tm ger which travels around a circular dial in substantially the same manner as in ordinary gas-m eters. contrivances used t'or this purpose are so arranged as that when once the pointer has been moved forward, even to the extent ot' the Iirst number scored, it cannot be replaced to the starting-point until it has traveled the whole length of the scoring-board, so that when once started it cannot be replaced until a game has been scored on the registering-dial. to prevent the apparatus being tampered with when the table is not being used, l provide a lock-catch, which prevents the movement of the scoring-pointers until said catch is removed out of its way. This l effect by means of a key somewhat like a clock-key.

In order, however, that my invention may be clearly understood, l will now refer to the drawings hereto attached, in whichw Figure l shows a tace viewot a billiardscoring board constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a back view ot' so much ot same as is necessary to illustrate my invention. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line a a, Fig. 2; Fig. 4,51 vertical section on the line b l), Fig. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the right-hand end ot the back ot the apparatus shown in Fig. 2.

The invention consists, essentially, in struct ural features and-combinations ot' parts substantially as hereinafter described, and set torth in the claims.

Referring to Figs. l to 5, ik ind"atcs the lower pointer secured by means ot" a screw, A', Figs. 2 and 5, to a plate, B, at the back ot' the scoring-board. Near the lower edge ot this plate is pivoted a pawl, 3, on a pivotpin, B2, the motion of which pawl in one direction is limited b v a stop-pin, Bi", and in Lthe other direction by a yielding stop or spring, B", Figs. Q and 5.

Near the upper right-hand corner ot' the plate B, Figs. i) and 5, is arranged a lockingstud, B, that is beveled or provided with an inclined face, tor purposes presently explained.

C is a steel plaie having a row ot' holes therein marked Cf', and having beveled projections on its back tace marked C?, and having also three other holes in it, through which pass the studs C3, which justreach to the back The l ot the scoring-board. Around each of these studs is a coiled spring, C, for the purpose ol' givingan elastic pressure t o the plate C. These studs also pass through an outer plate, l), which is screwed to the back ot the board by screws D. This plate acts as a resistance to the springs on the studs C. 'lhclett end, C",

i of plate C is turned outward, so as to facililn order i tate the entrance of the plate B between it and the scoring-lmard when the pointer commences to score. E isa ratchet having ien teeth, which is kept in cheek by a springpawl, E. On the spindle otl this ratchet is a small pinion, E2, having eight teeth which gear into a larger toothed. wheel, F, having eighty teeth, on the spindle oi' which is another pinion, F, having thirty teeth, which drives another toothed wheel, G, having sixty teeth, on the spindle ol' which is the indextiuger H on the dial l.

The operation ot this scorer is as tollows: lVhcn the game is about to be commenced, the pointers are et' course at the left-hand end ot' the board. The action of the upper pointer does not at'tect my apparatus; but immediately the lower one commences to score it carries with it the plate B, which enters behind and presses out the plate C, overcoming the pressure ot the springs C".

As the ICO pointer arrives at each successive number, the bevel stud or projection B5 at its back enters one of the holes C in the plate C, and whilethis stud affords no resistance to the onward travel of the pointer it presents an etiective obstacle to its being moved backward, as the projecting' edge of the stud comes against the edge of the hole and prevents its return. This plate C is continued, as shown, unto vvery nearly the end of the board, leaving onlyjust suicient room for the plate B to get Afree from it prior to its return. Then it has become free and isreturned,the springs C4 press the plate C close to the back ot' the scoringboard and so prevent the plate B from traveling in front of it and compel it to travel outside, as is shown in Fig. 2, where it is supposed' to be on its way back to its initial or starting point. The beveled studs (12p revent the return of the plate B with its attached pointer until it has reached its initialor starting point. As the plate B moves forward, its pawl B comes into contact with one ot' the teeth ot the ratchet E, which it moves round to the extent of one notch and then passes onward. The game, which has then been coinmenced, is thus scored, inasmuch as the motion of this ratchet is communicated by the train of wheels shown io the index-finger H, which is caused to move to the extent of scoring one on the dial I.

In order to prevent the apparatus being used when no games are being played, a catch is provided,\vhich consists of a stop, J, formed on a pivot, J,which can be opened and closed by means of a key-such as a clock-key-as clearly shown in Figs. l and i).

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature ot my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, l declare that what l claim isl. In abilliard-scoring board, the combination, with a marker adapted to travel along one side of the board, a slide to which said marker is secured adapted to travel along' the opposite side of the board, and a beveled locking-stud projecting rearwardly from said slide, of a spring-actuated lock-plate provided with perforations with which the locking-stud engages, substantially as and for the purposes speciiied.

2.' In a billiard-scoring board, the combination, with a marker adapted to travel along one side of the board, a slide to which said marker is secured adapted to travel along the i oppositeside of the board, and abevelcd lockin g-stud projecting rearwardly from said slide, of a spring-actuated lock-plate provided with perforations with which the locking-stud e11- gages and on its rear side with stops having' an inclined or beveled face, said plate being shorter than the distance traveled by the slide and marker to enable the slide to move from in front of the lock-plate to the rear thereof, the locking-stud on the slide and the stops on the lock-plate being beveled in reverse directions, substantially7 as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a billiard-scoringboard, the combination, with the marker adapted to travel along one side of the board, a slide to which said marker is secured adapted to travel along the opposite side of the board, a beveled lockingstud projecting rearwardly from and a pawl pivotal ly con u ccted with said sl ide, of a springactuated lock-plate provided with perforations with which the locking-stud engages, and with beveled stops projecting trom the rear face ot such plate, the locking-stud on the slide and the stops on the plate being beveled in reverse directions, and said plate being shorter than the distance traveled bythe slide and marker, and a registering mechanism adapted to be operated by the pawl on the slidel when moved in the proper direction, substantially as and for the purposes specied.

4. The combination, with the slotted scoring-board, the marker A, the slide B thereof provided with the beveled locking-stud Bigot the spring-actuated lock-plate C, having pertorations C', beveled stops C2, and an inwardlybent end, Cisaid plate being shorter than the slot on the scoring-board, substantially as and for the purposes specied.

5. The combination, with slotted scoringboard, the marker A, the slide B thereof provided with beveled locking-stud B5, and the pawl B', pivoted to said' slide, of the springactuated lock-plate C, havingperforations C', beveled stops C2, and inwardly-bent end C5, said plate being shorter than the slot in the scoring-board,.the ratchet-wheel E, arranged in the path of the pawl B', and a train ot' registering gearing adapted to be operated by said ratchet, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

RODERICK NICHOI'SON MONTGOMERY.

'itnesses:

WALTER SMYTHE BAYsToN, WALTER CHARLES HART.

IOO 

